But McDonald’s plans have taken a turn due to the intermittent rains of recent days. Up to 5mm of rain is also forecast on Thursday, the eve of the match, although clear conditions are expected during the Test match.
“Yesterday we lost practically the entire day of preparation. [pitch] take cover,” McDonald told reporters on a cloudy Wednesday morning. “We saw the forecast early on and started preparing a little earlier than normal.”
The wet weather in Perth this late in spring is unusual, as Western Australia’s famously warm capital is usually almost completely dry from November to April. But unexpected rain forced McDonald to adapt.
“It’s been pretty condition-based,” he said. “At the moment, we’re leaning towards rolling it up a little bit more to get that firmness and that happy medium between bat and ball. [It] “It would be nice if the sun came out, but we feel very comfortable as a curating team.”
McDonald said there would be between 8 and 10mm of grass remaining on a pitch he did not believe would deteriorate like last year’s surface.
“I don’t think this weather is going to make this field fall apart,” he said. “There will be some deterioration. The grass will rise during play and offer that variable bounce. But in terms of big snake WACA cracks, unfortunately, I don’t think the weather will take us there.”
Hazlewood had been almost unplayable against Pakistan last year as he relentlessly targeted the cracks late on day four to finish with 3 for 13 from 7.2 overs in the second innings. Pakistan were beaten for 89, and that capped Australia’s fourth victory in as many Tests at the 60,000-seat ground.
“I love playing in Perth. The wicket is always good for bowling… [it’s] bounce and potentially some cracks,” Hazlewood told reporters in the sunshine Wednesday afternoon. “I think the conditions suit us. “We’re probably more used to it with that bounce and pace.”
“There are no real secrets behind those closed doors. We’ve seen a lot of them, we play with them all the time, [and] We played against them,” Hazlewood said. “It’s going to come down to bowling in that area, batting patiently and trying to outlast them.”
“There were only a couple of us left in that series where we won 2-0… everyone was very determined. [to win this time]. “It’s something we have to mark as a group.”
Josh Hazlewood on Australia’s last test series win against India in 2014-15
“I’m very happy that Puj is not here. He is obviously someone who sets the pace, [and] really earns you your ground every time,” Hazlewood said.
“[But] There are always young, fresh guys coming into the Indian team and they are under a lot of pressure to perform with so many guys on their heels all the time. Whoever they pick in that XI, they are incredible players. It doesn’t really matter who they choose; “They are all great players.”
“There were only a couple of us left in that series where we won 2-0… everyone was very determined. [to win this time]”, he said. “It’s something we have to mark as a group. I think the added fact that it’s a five-Test series will make it a little more tiring. “If you win a series against India, anywhere in the world, you know you’ve earned it.”
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth.
